Officer convicted of misdemeanor in gas station assault

Published: Thursday, April 11 2013 3:45 p.m. MDT

TAYLORSVILLE — A long-time police officer has been convicted of a misdemeanor charge of reckless endangerment.

William McCarthy, 58, was entering a gas station near 2700 West and 4700 South on Sept. 22, 2011, when he saw a person standing in the way of one of the pumps, according to court documents. The victim said McCarthy accelerated towards him and knocked him down.

Because McCarthy, a retired West Valley police officer and current investigator with the state Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division, is familiar to many judges, the case was transferred to Summit County.

He was charged with aggravated assault, a third-degree felony, or an alternative charge of reckless endangerment, a class A misdemeanor.

On April 1, McCarthy was convicted by a judge of the lesser charge. Defense attorney Kent Morgan said the court determined there was no evidence of serious bodily injury on the victim related to contact with the car.

McCarthy is scheduled to be sentenced May 11. He is currently on paid leave from the vehicle enforcement division pending the completion of an internal investigation.